The disco craze of the late 1970's was the subject for this sit-com. Set in Passaic, New Jersey, it told the story of Billy Manucci (Naughton), a disco dancing, ice cream parlor jockey who wanted to be Tony Manero (of Saturday Night Fever [1978]). Billy lives with his Italian American family and spends all his nights at the local disco, Inferno.
This series lasted only 9 episodes. The opening credits are above, uploaded by robatsea2009. Though the show wasn't a hit, the theme song was, and went on to reach number 5 on the pop charts. It's below, uploaded by videokeking2009.
The series has never made it to DVD and episodes can be hard to find. Naughton is mostly remembered for his Dr. Pepper commercials. He went on to work with Pam Dawber in My Sister Sam (1986)
Obscurity factor: 10 (not on DVD or YouTube, vaguely remembered, hard to find)
Loved the song "Makin' It" in a pop-trash way and thought that David Naughton was just adorable. However, I can't for the life of me ever remember watching a single episode of the show. Thanks for a small slice of it.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember anything about the show either, though when I watched the opening credits the scene of him with the ice cream machine was immediately recognizable and a total sense memory - I must have seen it when it was broadcast.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how the theme song was such a hit but the show was not. I loved that song then, and I love it still!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great song... I love disco.
ReplyDeleteSome of the people involved with the production of this show were also involved with "Angie," which also had a hit theme song. "Angie," like "Flo," was another of those shows that had very high ratings during its first season when it was a mid-season replacement, and then they plummeted during the second season and then it was gone. One of the reasons given for the change in fortunes the second season was that it was moved all over the schedule, which is never good for a series.
ReplyDeleteI did a little more research into the second season ratings failure of "Angie." It was originally placed between "Happy Days" and "Three's Company," but it is thought that viewers lost interest in the two leads' interplay after they were married, and that there was something missing in their chemistry once they were man and wife. It is not the first time a show suffered after the romantic leads settled down together.
ReplyDeleteI loved Angie. Donna Pescow was fun and the chemistry between her and Robert Hays was good throughout in my opinion. The theme was terrific too. I have two versions of it in my TV playlist on iTunes. I found them here: http://sitcomsonline.com/angie.html
ReplyDeleteAngie was a big fave of mine.
ReplyDeleteDavid is 60... kill me now.
I had the theme song on a 45. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI knew I recognized the face of the third female "Rebecca Balding". An IMDB listing shows:
ReplyDelete"Charmed", I never watched. "Lou Grant", very rarely.
And then, she played "Carol David" in the third season of "Soap". She was the character that tricked "Jodie" (Billy Crystal) into getting her pregnant and marrying her.
I was a 15 year old boy who STRONGLY identified with "Jodie".
I hated her!
I've since grown and recognize the difference between character and actress. But she is still a whore.
She worked quite a bit back then, and frequently played roles like that...
ReplyDeleteI remember the song quite well. I recall the television show, but I don't remember the plot of any of the episodes. Thank you for posting this :)
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